Category: mtx

Did Methotrexate Make Me Gluten Intolerant?

Posted on by Grayson

a photo of a clear pill organizer with mostly white pills and orange-yellow ones in Friday's slot against a black table; a yellow overlay with white text: " Did methotrexate make me gluten intolerant? Not Standing Still's Disease "

When I started methotrexate in late 2010, it was rough. I started on the pills and then discontinued them, moving on to biologics. After switching to a new rheumatologist a year later, I tried it again – this time as an injection in conjunction with Enbrel.

About this time is when I noticed that anything containing gluten made me incredibly sick. We ran a Celiac blood test but, as I wasn’t eating gluten, it came back inconclusive.

Since the only treatment for Celiac disease is to maintain a gluten-free diet, I’ve maintained that since late 2012. It’s not always been easy. The advancements in gluten-free products have made it easier. I’ve learned a lot of cool cooking and baking tricks along the way. I have to work more for my food, and that’s a good thing.

Throughout the years, I’ve wondered many things about my inability to eat gluten. Why did it come on so suddenly? Is there a reason it continues to last? Why did it come on when it did?

I recently came across a few journal articles that might shed light on that.

Apparently, there have been cases where gluten intolerance-like behavior has come on as a result of methotrexate. For most patients, this has calmed down after following a gluten-free diet and discontinuing the medication. These patients were then able to restart consuming gluten.

But I wonder – what is it that these patients have received as far as care that has led to this recovery? Are there patients for whom this never cleared up?

I survived on bread for the longest time. My go-to foods were sandwiches, bagels, and garlic bread. From 2010-2012, I practically lived on pop-tarts and on-the-go pastries or protein bars. What else could have changed during that time period to trigger a gluten issue?

I just don’t know.

If you’ve dealt with gluten intolerance after being on methotrexate, has it cleared up? Is it situational or stress-related? I’ love to hear from you.

Wii!

Posted on by Grayson

Back in December, I learned that you could do layaway at Sears but start your layaway online instead of having to be present in the store. You can then make payments online and pick up your items after 8 weeks. You could pay it off sooner if you wanted to, but most people I’ve dealt with in layaways don’t.

I’ve wanted a Wii for a long time, but I’m finally in a position where I have a little more disposable income to do fun things like that. Plus, it’s been tough for me lately to head off to the gym and not overdo it, so I thought that the Wii Fit Plus would really help me out.

I picked up the Wii yesterday, and I spent about an hour and a half today working out between Wii Fit Plus and Grand Slam Tennis.

It was AMAZING.

I felt good today, and that is pretty amazing too. Hopefully, this week will be easier to get through with work and not taking the MTX this weekend.

Another Chapter in MTX Land

Posted on by Grayson

I had a doctor’s appointment today. Well, a nurse practitioner.

She was awesome.

I did labs, including peeing all over my hand in a cup, and an x ray of my lower back. I’m holding my MTX dose this week to see if the back pain and hand pain subsides. If there is something wrong with MTX and me, then I’ll move onto leflunomide. From what she says, it’s essentially MTX but less crazy.

That’s pretty good, because at this point I’m about ready to not work ever again with the pain I’ve been in the past few days. Yesterday was easily one of the worst days of my life. And I still worked. Because I called in the day before.

I already arranged to have Thursday and Friday off this week as well. Last night, I felt a break in the pain, and then things got a lot better, but I just want to take it easy here for a few days. I’m exhausted after working through that pain.

I’m just hoping for some answers on what’s going on here. It’s imperative that I get them, so that I know how to proceed at this point.

In other news, my celiac tests came back negative, so that’s good. And I’ve discovered Spotify, so my love of jazz is growing exponentially.

Mmm blues and jazz.

THIS IS SPARTA!

Posted on by Grayson

Imagine the enthusiasm and anger with which the handsome Gerard Butler screams this phrase while kicking that other dude into that hole. Now imagine a pissed off patient in a rheumatologist’s office.

Okay, so it didn’t quite go like that.

I told him straight up I’m done taking the mtx, so I’m not taking it anymore. And I feel so much better already!

I should be starting Humira soon, but will be needing to get financial assistance with that. Walgreens called to tell me that was ready today. Eep. Waiting for my TB test Tuesday/Thursday and then I’ll learn how to shoot myself up. Yay!

Also, I’ve been offered a really unique ability to blog for another website. But I’ll have more about this later!

Tonight, I’m off to a free 80s vs 90s music battle/concert/awesome event. And, since I’m off the mtx and can drink a little more now, I plan on thoroughly enjoying myself 🙂

MTX and Protests

Posted on by Grayson

Oh Wisconsin, I love your craziness.

The governor is totally being a killjoy and trying to remove the rights of unions to bargain… Also, he’s going to screw up my school, and we aren’t standing for it. What he’s doing is removing the tuition remission for TAs, which essentially will screw up the school as a large percentage of classes (especially languages) are taught by TAs… who will now not have enough money to attend the school.

But it got me to thinking that protesting is similar to fighting a chronic disease.

As I was standing the the capitol building, shouting and protesting against this attack on our rights, it really hit me. I protest everyday, by taking my medications and by living my life as normally as I can.

We lowered my dose of MTX and I’ve started to take 2 pills in the morning and two in the PM. This is my first week like that, and I’m hoping it helps my side effects go down. But hey, I think it’s really helping so I’m excited about that.

Well, it’s either the MTX, the unseasonably wonderful weather, or the smell of protest in the air… 🙂

MTX, first weekend

Posted on by Grayson

I’m really trying hard to not post until the PFAM is up but it’s just not working. Oh well. I need to get out some pent up feelings anyhow.

Stephen Colbert is one of my favorite people in the whole world. He’s a wonderful guy, who has seen his share of tough times but still rises above and beyond. Also, he’s probably the funniest and smartest person in my life that I actually haven’t met 🙂

This is one of my favorite quotes from him – the real him, and not his Report persona:

“Don’t be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.”

I’m really trying to live my life by that, and I usually do pretty good, but it’s tough lately.

I didn’t go to class today, and worked a whopping 40 minutes of my 8-hour shift at the hotel. This MTX (I think?) is kicking my ass. I feel like I have the flu kinda? And I don’t know what to do about it. The scariest part? Not only am I having like full-on pain between my stomach and my chest, now I’m occasionally (like while walking??) getting ridiculous tingly feelings. Case in point: the boyfriend and I were at the gym yesterday, and all of the sudden my lower leg joints kind of went numb-ish… and then it felt like there was a colony of ants feasting on my legs. I stopped walking and tried to stretch out, but it just didn’t help. The biting sensation was (mostly) gone, but my joints were still crap. The night basically ended in me crying, ice pack between my ankles, and my sweet boyfriend rubbing my back and working on cheering me up. He’s so good at that for me. Otherwise, you know, I get this cauldron of thoughts stirring around in my head:

I hate being so weak in front of him, especially when he is so strong for me. 


I must look like an idiot, crying and talking about my body like it’s another person hating me and trying to kill me. I can’t even walk on a treadmill without my body freaking out on me.

Is this the MTX and will it go away? Or am I going through the first stages of MS? I don’t want to go through my last years in life like my great grandma did. It’s been almost eleven years since she died, and I still don’t understand why I didn’t ask her more about her strength and her amazing perseverance. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss her and think about her.


Will I be able to get my PhD? My Master’s? Can I keep going to school after this semester? During this semester? Who am I kidding, thinking that I could work a full-time job if I’m not in school with all this going on?


I’m tired of being dizzy. Why do all my medications cause dizziness and stomach upset? Can we not, at our medically-advanced stage, create a friggin’ medication that actually works?!?

I’m alright with waiting until my next appt on the 28th (as long as things don’t get worse) to talk to the rheumy. But the boyfriend thinks I need to keep a closer eye on that… and he’s probably right. He’s the logical one 🙂  The chest pain has been happening off and on for a little while now, but I’ve just been saying it’s got to be asthma-related and just blowing it off… which is not the smartest idea ever.

Still’s Disease, you are a bitch. But I plan on not beings yours anymore, and I’m turning the tables on you one way or another.

MTX, day one

Posted on by Grayson

So I took my MTX yesterday – after classes just in case it knocked me out.

I had a pretty good sensitivity to light not too long after taking it. And then I was about ready for bed by 8:30… which is not conducive to my hectic student lifestyle but meh. I think I’m going to ask for Fridays off from work from now on. I might even offer to work the dreaded 2nd shift on Saturdays so that I have more time to rest, but we’ll see on that one.

I woke up alright this morning. I’ve been pretty tired all day though. And now I’m pretty warm too. I hate that.

I have a haircut appt on Thursday afternoon. I’m kind of excited. I’m not sure what I’ll get yet, but I have a couple of ideas. I want something shorter, because I never have my hair down since I get so warm like that. I’m tired of my ever present ponytail-bun.

Don’t forget about PFAM!